What to do when a bass misses your buzz bait 101

[carlcmc]

Out fishing the backwaters by Wabasha on Sunday. Caught a few bass and pike.

What happened several times however was fish swiping at and missing a buzz bait i was throwing. I had a white buzzbait with red body. I started it buzzing just as it touched down. Multiple times a bash would slash the surface and miss it completely. In fact this huge pike slashed at it 4 times with in 3 feet and another one time 5 foot later and missed it each time.

So what do you do when a fish slashed at your buzzbait and misses? I tried throwing a senko to the area as follow up from another rod with no luck. One time I did hook back up with the bass by waiting about a minute and throwing the buzz bait again and catching him. Another time when throwing again, the bass slashed at it and missed a second time.

So what to do?

[Fish Head]

That's a common problem with buzz baits. Were you using a trailer hook? I always use a trailer hook with buzz baits. If you wern't using one, that could help.

Good luck!

[Stainless]

yes, a very common problem.I can say I dont think I have ever had a pike go after my buzzer's, maybe Im just lucky that way...lol. I have also heard and I tend to believe it, that many times what your seeing is a bass just swiping at your lure and not intending to bight it,just smack it because the noise is annoying them. I cant say with complete confidence that this is the case, but for as often as it happens I tend to believe it. Still makes for alot of fun just to see the bass attack it though.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Carl- there are going to be a lot of people that will disagree with me on this one.. But in my opinion. The water temps are not what they need to be for buzzbaits. It really doesnt surprise me that you missed a bunch of fish on buzzbaits. By all means I am not saying you cant fish buzzbaits when the water temps are in the high 60 and low 70's.. You can.. I just think there are better ways to catch and find bass. I usually do not start throwing buz baits till I see water temps hit mid to upper 70's.

If you miss a fish on a buzz have a backup rod ready.. a tube, a wacky rigged do nothing bait. a Fluke style bait.. al will often times catch those fish that you miss on top water. The importance is how fast you get back to that active fish. It works best with 2 people in the boat. One that attracts the fish, one to catch them. One with the buzz, one with the back up rod. The 2nd anger needs to be ready to hit where the fish missed very fast..speed is the importance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carlcmc]

interesting thought about water temp.

I couldn't use a trailer hook because of all the junk in the water... wouldn't a trailer hook just catch more weeds?

I think the pike must have attacked it because big pike will eat small critters from time to time. But it slashed at it as i said like 5 times on the way back. and i'm not talking little surface explosions like bass make, this was 3 foot slashes back and forth as it thrashed at it. Followed up close enough to see with polarized glasses before it got to about 3 foot from the pontoons.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Carl-

There are 2 ways to rig a trailer hook.. One is with the hook facing the same way as the original hook. In that cast its usually as weekdless as the orig bait. However, if fishing open water you can rig a trailerhook facing downwards. And get a few more hook ups.

I myself, am sticking with my original theory.. still to early to get on a serious buzz bait bait!

[delmuts]

it's not to unusual to have a pike go after a surface lure. i have caught them on buzzbaits and i have a sara spook with teeth marks in it. dietz may be right about the temps, but i still can't resist to use one at times, just for the fun of it.

[SledNeck]

I always catch Northerns on Buzzbaits, but not this early in the year up north here. But on hot summer days/evenings I can catch or have a follow up on virtually every cast on certain lakes. Bass absolutely explode on them too....sometimes 5 or 6 hits on one cast. I have a very good hook rate due to the fact I cut the lure between the jig head and where u tie the line on and I add a swivel to make the jighead, hook and trailer hook site lower in the water. I used to hate buzzbaits until I started using this set up.

[EBass]

Sledneck, can you post a pic of your buzz bait? I can't seem to picture it in my head.

What I would do if I had them blow up on buzzers but kept missing? I'd go with another topwater like a scum frog (you said really weedy right?) So it would need to be a weedless topwater. Otherwise I'd try a skitter pop or prop or maybe a walk the dog type. Something that says in the strike zone long enough. But who knows maybe they liked all the racket. You could toss a spinnerbait and rip it in just under the surface weasling through the weed patches. Maybe try a fluke. It's hard to say that's why its nice having multiple rods ready to go. I'd toss my tackle box at em. It may make a big splash though

[Kevin Turner]

This works for me:

When reeling the buzzer I seldom set the hook on a strike. My hope is the fish will hook themselves. If the silly fish fails to hook himself, I pause the bait, but keep the line tight. Many times the fish will whack it again...Then set the hook hard!

If the fish won't strike the paused bait, don't throw the buzzer back in. As stated above, throw something different.

If he won't take the secondary bait, wait 10 minutes or so, and try again.

Patience!!!

[TNFL]

Maybe try a prop bait like a devils horse or torpedo. They float and have the blades that turn, you can fish slow with pauses.

[FlipR70]

With respect, I disagree with Deitz. I've caught several bass over 3lbs this year on a basic black Zoom Horny Toad. When you rig this soft plastic, you Texas rig it with a big hook (I use a 5/0) and pull it across the surface and the legs make a noise sort of like a subtle buzz bait.

When you have a fish blow up & miss it, you stop the lure and the legs still kick as it slow drops below the surface. Then the fish hit it with a thump like a jig bite.

I've found that it's best to just let the fish have it even when they hit it on the surface and I haven't problems with them dropping it (just like a typical soft plastic) and then I set the hook when I feel the weight.

It might be that this would allow you to let the fish come back and take the bait if they miss it the first time. I would guess you'd loose a couple if you've got pike but they're a soft plastic so it's not like loosing a $5 lure.

My $0.02,

FlipR70

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I like using quad blade buzzbaits, you dont need to crank as fast to get them up and keep them there. I think it makes it a bit easier for the fish to get a hold on them.

[Ray Esboldt]

Turnupthefishing,

Where are you finding Quad buzzers? I really like them too. Like you said, you can reel them ultra slow. That really lets the fish zero in.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Funny you ask that, Ive been looking all over and cant find any. Ive only got one left and dont throw it without a leader.

[EBass]

What about a double buzz? I haven't seen them in a couple of years now to and mine broke.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I havn't seen any double buzzers too. I think I may have to look into smaller tackle stores or bait shops.

[LEECH21]

I love it when you're buzzing along and then all the sudden you see a 4-5 pound bass come shooting completly out of the water about 3 inches behind the buzzbait. Nothing gets the heart pounding more then that..... Except maybe a huge arse muskie following inches behind your lure

[EBass]

A mermaid would be cool to see.

[carlcmc]

if anyone can point me to double buzzers and where to buy i'd give a couple a try.

[sjmullin25]

Thorne Brothers is primarly a muskie shop but they do carry double buzzbaits and have a wide selection of other get bass lures. They are located over in Coon Rapids off hwy47, sorry i don't have a #

[Deitz Dittrich]

Too all looking for double buzzers. The best I have found are made By Accent lure company.. Most places should carry them.. gander, capras, cabelas..